Chapter 13 - Girl
Is there anybody going to listen to my story
All about a girl who came to stay
She's the kind of girl you want so much it makes you sorry
Still you don't regret a single day.
Was she told when she was young that pain would lead to pleasure
Did she understand it when they said
That a man must break his back to earn his day of leisure
Will she still believe it when he's dead?
Paul McCartney
- What do you want? Leia said in a dry tone, plopping herself down on a simple plastic red chair. She was standing right in front of Han's cell. They were separated by a force field, and he was sitting on his cot, with his hands behind his head.
- Why, princess. So nice of you to come and visit.
- Cut the wise cracks, Solo. I've got no time and less patience for them..
- From what I pieced together so far. The real bad guys used me as a diversionary tactic. I think that's the military term, right? Which means the real business was done somewhere else, particularly where your brother was located. And as I hear your brother has been missing.
- Where did you hear that?
- I have my sources.
- This isn't a game, you idiot! Leia shouted getting up. My brother's life may be in danger. We can't afford an information leak.
- Hey, relax, he said getting up himself. That Jedi buddy of yours mentioned your brother earlier. So I figured I called you just to check if everything is okey. But since you came, that means everything is not ok. Because if this mission was truly over, you wouldn't want to have anything to do with me.
Leia gave her silent consent of his assessment.
- Now listen, where did you want to start your search?
- Like I'm going to trust you.
- These are real dangerous circles, princess. Even for a Jedi. Truth is, people take one look at you and your shiny little lightsaber, and they're gonna keep their mouths shut just like a garish worm.
- Garish worms don't have mouths.
- Exactly. Like it or not, you need me. You need a seedy element around you, an aficionado of the lower circles of society. You get me out of here, you let me fix my Falcon, and I'll help you find your brother.
- And what's in it for you?
- Besides the pleasure of your company, he said sarcastically, but then all of the sudden turned serious. I don't like slave traders, and I don't like being used. Let's just say I have my own scores to settle. Being a Jedi and all you can see that I mean what I say.
And he did… She could feel his determination.
- What do you know about Bespin? That's where my brother was last spoted.
- Bespin? You have to be kidding me... I know the guy who runs the whole operation. This is practically destiny. No... what do you Jedi like to say? It's the will of the Force, he said and brought his palms together looking towards the sky. Actually make that the roof of his cell. But the way he was mocking the Jedi Order did not escape Leia.
- However, You're going to be under my custody solely in an advisor fashion. You will follow my orders.
- Don't worry about me. I love it when the woman's on top, he said with a sexy smirk.
The force field that up until then had separated them deactivated and Leia casually entered his cell. Han was curious what she wanted to do. He felt a sudden force grab his legs from under him and he fell on his back with a thud. Leia quickly placed her foot right under his chin.
- In that case, she purred, we'll get along just fine.
She emphasized the word "fine" by pressing down on his neck. She then left the cell to go talk to the Comissioner about taking custody of Han Solo. The Corellian caressed his neck, which now sported a boot print and whispered: "What a woman…"
...
- I'm telling you buddy, I'm starting to hate this idea. She's changing in the back. Made my ship her won personal boudoir. Probably picking out new curtains by now. You know that they say it's bad luck to have a woman on board. And on top of all that, she had the audacity to call my ship a "bucket of junk". That's a direct quote you know…
Chewbacca growled inquisitively.
- What did I say? I said: "Look your worshipfulness. I don't care who your daddy is! This is my ship and my rules! You don't like it… you're free to get out there and hitchhike".
- That's not how I remember it, a female voice was heard behind them.
Leia stood at the entrance of the cockpit, with all eyes, alien or otherwise, transfixed on her. She had changed her clothes and the color of her hair. It was now a dark blonde and braided, the braids hanging off her shoulders and back. She was wearing a grayish see-through blouse, with a crop top underneath. Her light brown pants were tight, like a second skin but looked comfortable. They went perfectly with her dark brown leather boots. Han had to conclude that the outfit was simple, yet sexy and just the thing that a twenty-something attractive bounty hunter would casually wear.
An awkward silence followed, as Han soaked up the sight. Eventually Chewie couldn't take it anymore and exited the cockpit, muttering on about "silly stupid human mating habits", as Han understood it. Leia took his place and looked at the panels, making sure they were on schedule for Bespin.
- That's what I would've said you know, Han finally enunciated and Leia turned to look at him. If I didn't know you could kill me without touching me in 13 different ways.
- 14, she corrected him.
- Right.
Silence ensued again… and Han found it difficult to find a proper subject of conversation.
- You know… it amazes me that some people still have slaves when droid technology has come such a long way, he finally said.
- It's not a matter of practicality as much as it is tradition, and culture does not subscribe to any kind of laws. Slavery is legal on several planets, but with the condition that the slaves are indigenous to that particular planet. Only problem is, the lower and middle classes have been emigrating for centuries now. So the upper classes find themselves in a dilemma. They don't have any poor people to turn into slaves. That's were the traders come in. They ensnare or kidnap millions of people from poorer planets and sell them to the highest bider. The people's memories are erased and then replaced with memory chips, so the slaves think they were actually born on the planet they were shipped to. That's why it's so hard to capture them. The whole business is… flawless, and quite lucrative, Leia concluded with a sad, yet empty look.
Han listened carefully and then whispered:
- I don't blame you…
- For what?
- For wanting me dead…before, when you captured me. Such people don't deserve to live, he added bitterly.
- No, Leia sighed. I was wrong. It is not my place to decide who lives and who dies, she said looking him straight in the eyes. I'm sorry about that.
- Don't mention it, Han replied, feeling a bit better about himself.
A Jedi actually apologized to him. Maybe this broad wasn't so bad.
- So… you're a Jedi, he said.
- I'm sorry, are you trying to make idle conversation?
- Yeah, I mean yes. Is it working?
- Not really.
- Why not?
- Because we have nothing to talk about, obviously.
- How will we know we don't have anything to talk about if we don't talk about it?
The Jedi rolled her eyes and then ignored the comment.
- Is it hard for you?
- Is what hard?
- Being a Jedi.
- It's not meant to be easy.
- Yes but… is it harder for you then it is for the others?
- Why would it be harder for me? Because I'm a woman?
- Because of your father, obviously.
- I didn't get any sort of preferential treatment because of my surname, if that's what you're implying.
- Stop putting words in my mouth, woman! I was just wondering if… there are higher expectations from you. That's at least what I figured. Everyone knows the House of Skywalker rules this galaxy. Do you even have any fun?
- A Jedi feels no passion, she said bluntly.
- Fun and passion arent' the same… hmmm.
Han stopped himself before finishing the thought, reconsidering it.
- What is it? Leia asked.
- I was just thinking that some of the funniest things require a bit of passion, while some of the most passionate things are a lot of fun, he answered grinning.
- Your eloquence amazes me, the woman said rolling her eyes again.
- So you haven't answered my quest…
- Being a Jedi, she interrupted him, is not a burden, or a duty or even a job. It is a privilege and an honor. The Force has chosen me to be its voice and I cannot refuse, regardless of Anakin Skywalker or any other people in my life. I do not have fun, I do not engage in trivial pursuits, because I spend all my free time trying to better my skills so that I can better serve the Force. At the end of the day, being a Jedi brings me such satisfaction that someone like you could never understand. So please, stop trying to befriend me. You and I could not be more different.
Han listened patiently, trying to control his temper. For a second he thought she was different from the other uptight anal Jedi, all blessed with a holier then thou attitude. But he was sorely disappointed.
- You know… I don't know if I dislike you more as a zealot or as a hypocrite.
- Meaning?
- Meaning that you either actually believe all that crap, or you don't but you don't know any better.
- Don't worry your pretty little head. Just concentrate on the driving.
- You got it, ice-princess.
The atmosphere in the cockpit got really chilly. In fact… it was downright arctic, when Chewbacca's voice was heard through the intercom.
- Uh-oh.
- What does uh-oh mean?
- It means we got stowaways.
- They must be suicidal to climb aboard this fossil.
- Enough with the jokes on the expense of my ship. Let's see what this is about.
The two reluctant partners climbed down to the cargo-hold where Chebwbacca was getting ready to fire his bowcaster at two very familiar droids.
- C3PO! R2D2! What are you doing here? Leia asked, surprised to see her two droids.
- Excuse me, miss Skywalker. It was all his fault! C3PO whined, pointing at the little astromec. He said you might need our help… he didn't trust the scruffy looking nerd herder.
- Hey! Han objected.
-So we snuck aboard… and we thought we were safe until this over grown bear rug tried to have us dismantled! So naturally we defended ourselves.
It was Chewbacca's turn to growl in protest.
- I'm touched by your concern, but this could be a very dangerous mission. Solo, we have to return them home.
- We can't turn back now… half a day and we reach Bespin. They can stay on the ship but tell the little guy not to zap Chewbacca anymore.
Chewbacca announced his agreement by moaning slightly and massaging his right arm.
AN - One of the hardest things to navigate around when I was writing this chapter is that I don't actually know how long it would take to get from Coruscant to Bespin. For the sake of the story I figured it would be about a day and a half, but in all actuality it should be considerably longer than that. It took more than a day for Han to get from Hoth to Bespin in ESB and they were practically neighbouring planets, whereas Bespin is 49.000 light years from The Core. Granted they were running from the Empire and made at least one pit stop. Should this be an issue with anybody, I'm just gonna argue that since the Empire never formed, technology evolved. and in this alternate universe, the Millennium Falcon is faster than it should be. :)